How do professional athletes ‘celebrate’ the festive season?

AS MOST of us wind down into the holiday season, it’s a valuable time for young athletes to take a breather and enjoy some downtime.

This is something I consistently encourage our Coerver kids to do. My message to them is to go and be kids! Rest, surf, spend time with friends and enjoy the break.

It’s important for all of us to step away from the structure of our busy weekly schedules. A short break doesn’t set young players back, it just means they return fresher, more motivated and ready to go again.

For me, this time of year usually means consuming a lot of sport on TV.

I love watching the A-League, Premier League, Big Bash and the Boxing Day Test. It reminds me that behind every televised match is a professional athlete living a completely different reality, and it’s the reason I think all athletes have a certain level of mutual respect.

You see for professional footballers and athletes, the idea of relaxing around Christmas and over the holiday season is vastly different. It often doesn’t exist at all.

When I was in the thick of playing professionally, I used to remind myself that it wasn’t forever. For professional footballers, Christmas is the busiest part of the season. The calendar is packed, games come thick and fast, and you feel like you’re living in a constant cycle of hotel rooms, training grounds, stadiums and recovery sessions.

You miss the end-of-year festivities, or if you’re lucky enough to go, you must remain strict with your diet, and definitely can’t stay out late at any parties.

I can still remember eating pasta on Christmas Day to ensure I was in the best condition to perform the next day. I’d be training and sometimes travelling on Christmas Day. I’d be sleeping in a hotel on New Year’s Eve, and with the amount of games coming, I’d be focusing squarely on my performances so that my club was getting the best possible results and I would remain in the team.

 

When I was young and experiencing this type of schedule for the first time in England, it was a real eye-opener.

Throughout my whole career, I noticed other younger players struggling with this concept. Soon enough, we all realised that elite sport is a 24/7 commitment.

It also gave me an appreciation of other professions who make similar sacrifices during the Christmas and holiday period.

Doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters and countless others continue to work through Christmas and the New Year to keep communities safe and well. And let’s remember that their expertise is far more important than what happens on the sporting field!

While many gather with family, these people show up to do their jobs, often missing milestones and moments that matter. So be sure to thank them if you get the chance.

Enjoy a break and watching your heroes on TV over the holidays. Admire the work they put in and the entertainment they provide. And if you’re a kid, be just that and really enjoy your break.

See you on the pitch,

Coach Ado

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